Connector mechanism for safely and quickly attaching and detaching a sensor

Abstract

A connector mechanism for safely and quickly attaching or detaching a sensor. The connector mechanism includes a sensor head assembly comprising a detector body with an internal channel, an open distal end, and a sensor head attachment connector (HAC) located within the channel. The HAC includes a first electrical connection having at least a first contact member and a first key component located in a fixed location relative to the first contact member. The connector mechanism includes a sensor cartridge comprising a cartridge housing with a probe component, a second electrical connection having at least a second contact member configured to mate with the first contact member, and a second key component that is located in a fixed location relative to the second contact member. The first and second key components engage one another before the first and second contact members engage one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector mechanism for safely and quickly attaching or detaching a sensor, the connector mechanism comprising:
 a sensor head assembly, comprising:
 a detector body with an internal channel and an open distal end, the internal channel having a longitudinal axis; and 
 a sensor head attachment connector (sensor HAC) located within the channel, the sensor HAC oriented to face the distal end, the sensor HAC recessed within the channel remote from the distal end, the sensor HAC including a first electrical connection having at least a first contact member, the sensor HAC including a first key component that is located in a fixed location relative to the first contact member; and 
 
 a sensor cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge housing that includes a probe component, the cartridge housing configured to be at least partially inserted through the open distal end into the internal channel of the detector body; 
 a second electrical connection having at least a second contact member configured to mate with the first contact member; and 
 a second key component that is located in a fixed location relative to the second contact member, wherein the first and second key components engage one another before the first and second contact members engage one another, 
 
 the sensor cartridge being configured to be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the internal channel to align the first key component and the second key component with each other; and 
 the sensor HAC being recessed within the internal channel by a predetermined distance from the open distal end of the detector body, the predetermined distance being chosen such that the detector body limits angular movement of the sensor cartridge relative to the longitudinal axis of the internal channel when the cartridge housing is at least partially inserted through the open distal end into the internal channel of the detector body. 
 
     
     
       2. The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the second key component is configured to interlock with the first key component, and wherein the first and second contact members are longitudinally blocked from engaging one another until the first and second key components are aligned. 
     
     
       3. The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge housing has an outer diameter that fits within an inner diameter of the distal end of the detector body such that, when the sensor cartridge is loaded through the distal end into the internal channel, the detector body limits angular movement of the sensor cartridge relative to a longitudinal axis of the internal channel. 
     
     
       4. The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the second key component extends a key length outward from the cartridge housing, the second contact member extending a contact length outward from the cartridge housing, wherein the key length is greater than the contact length. 
     
     
       5. The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the first key component includes a groove and the second key component includes a standoff, and wherein the groove is configured to receive the standoff to enable the first and second contact members to engage one another. 
     
     
       6. The sensor of  claim 1 , further including a sensor retaining cap, the sensor retaining cap being configured to be mounted to the detector body to retain the sensor cartridge to the sensor head assembly. 
     
     
       7. The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor cartridge includes a pre-loaded stage where the sensor cartridge is received in the internal channel and is longitudinally aligned with the sensor HAC. 
     
     
       8. The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor cartridge includes an intermediate circumferential alignment stage where the sensor cartridge is received in the internal channel, the sensor cartridge is longitudinally aligned with the sensor HAC, and the first key component and the second key component are circumferentially aligned with each other. 
     
     
       9. The sensor of  claim 1 , having a final loaded and engaged stage where the first key component and the second key component are aligned and engaged with each other, and where the first contact member and the second contact member are engaged in electrical connection with each other. 
     
     
       10. The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor head assembly comprises a third key component that is located in a fixed location relative to the first contact member, the sensor cartridge comprising a fourth key component that is located in a fixed location relative to the second contact member, the third and the fourth key components being configured to engage each other to enable the first and second contact members to engage one another. 
     
     
       11. The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the first contact member includes at least one spring-loaded contact element that is configured to engage the second contact member. 
     
     
       12. The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the second contact member includes a contact pin.